I've often wondered that RP, but I do understand that when the arrival of the Tonka was imminent on the F-4 Squadrons there was a sense that a lesser aircraft was taking over. I'm also given to understand tha F-4 certainly had a better performance at altitude.
FB
You're right to some degree. As a working weapon system the F4 was far better than the newly acquired F3 until it started getting sorted out around the 1st Gulf War with some defensive aids and a RADAR that worked!
Same thing with Typhoon vs F3 - I can remember dropping back for a Typhoon in the Queen's Birthday Flypast to get the range right for the formation becuase the Typhoon didn't have a RADAR that worked properly. However, these days the Typhoon would run rings around an F3.
LJ